The Changing Moral Zeitgeist
We live in an interesting time. Where we once simply remarked that India is changing, today we get to see that change happen. A liberal India is emerging out of the shackles, freeing herself from the grips of the ‘moral police’. Being open-minded and a free-thinker yourself, I am sure that you agree with me when I say that the recent Delhi High Court judgment reading down IPC section 377 is a giant leap for equality in India.
The judgment has been given a lot of press coverage in India and abroad. It deserves every bit of it, and not only because it decriminalizes homosexuality. The judgment has thrown the focus back on the very basis on which our society, country and constitution were formed.
If there is one constitutional tenet that can be said to be the underlying theme of the Indian Constitution, it is that of ‘inclusiveness’. This Court believes that the Indian Constitution reflects this value deeply ingrained in Indian society, nurtured over several generations. The inclusiveness that Indian society traditionally displayed, literally in every aspect of life, is manifest in recognising a role in society for everyone.
I believe that this judgment is historic, and the next generation of Indians will look at us with shock, and ask us what took us so long.
I realize that not everyone approves of gays and lesbians. I would like to ask these people how many gay friends they have; how many gay people they know on a personal level. My guess is that the answer is zero. Zilch. Nada. It is easy to judge an entire population or community en-masse when you don’t know anyone in the group on a personal level. It is easy to think that Muslims are terrorists; to think that blacks are inferior to whites; to think that queers are perverts. But go meet a real man who follows Islam, a real black person and a real gay man. You will find that your blanket opinions will shift sooner than you thought possible.
Go out and make friends with a gay man or woman. My hunch is that you will find that person personable and just like everybody else. (I don’t mean to suggest that you should make love to someone of the same sex. That would be entirely up to you.)
“Well,” you say, “so where does one go to find a gay friend?”
My answer to that question is that you don’t have to ‘go’ anywhere. All you have to do is open your mind and your eyes, and look around you. Queers are everywhere. It could be your close friend, someone in your class, someone at your workplace, your brother or sister, an uncle, an aunt or even a parent. But they may not be out to you yet, because they think you wouldn’t understand. Let people around you know that you are OK with homosexuality — tell them that — and you will find that they will come out to you themselves.
It is entirely possible, dare I say very likely, that you already have a gay friend. You just don’t know about it yet.
What is the connection between the content and the title?
There is nothing related to morality here…
As society progresses, our notions of right and wrong change. What was unthinkable in the past becomes debatable, and is finally accepted as mainstream. I acknowledge your point that the judgment itself has no notion of morality. But it has triggered a public debate, which has everything to do with morality — a little foot in the door, but progress still.
Nice. One just hopes for a time when people can stay in India and be who they really are, instead of seeking refuge elsewhere – I’m glad that there are signs of progress, however feeble they might still be.
I think it is reading too much into a judgment, which merely is an interpretation by a bench. The IPC section still stands unamended and courts do not criminalise or decriminalise; legislature does.